episode_0037

37. Shall We Take You Along?

The youngest of the Liriana sisters, Taisie Wents.

She wielded her impossibly long spear with dazzling skill as she attacked Reina.

Even though the blade was wrapped in thick cloth for sparring, every swing sent dust swirling in a way that looked incredibly powerful.

Taisie swung her spear with serpentine flexibility.

She precisely targeted Reina, who had been lightly evading every attack, and brought her spear crashing down toward Reina’s head.

*-Clang!*

In the end, Reina blocked by clashing her halberd against Taisie’s spear.

Though Taisie had finally managed to reach Reina… she didn’t seem the least bit satisfied.

Instead, eyes bloodshot with rage, she screamed at Reina.

“You fucking bastard, are you not taking this seriously?!”

Unlike Taisie, who was gnashing her teeth and slamming down her spear, Reina looked completely at ease.

While Taisie had both hands pressing down with all her might, Reina blocked with just one arm, the other resting comfortably on her hip.

As Taisie poured out her fury, Reina responded with a sneer.

“Have you ever seen a dragon go all-out against a goblin?”

“You crazy bitch…!”

And so, the two women clashed their weapons with such force that the training grounds were nearly destroyed in the process.

Perhaps because these weren’t ordinary steel weapons, not a single scratch appeared on them despite the earth-shaking impacts.

It looked like CGI from a movie, leaving me dumbfounded as I stared.

Come to think of it, I’d felt this way ever since Vivian’s duel—somehow, it all felt oddly unrealistic.

Of course, since I had zero combat ability myself, I just crouched in a corner and watched.

This was the kind of showdown you’d want to enjoy with popcorn.

Then, a woman with dark blue-hued black braids—

Athena, who had been calling Reina “boss” and scolding her like a mother, approached me.

“Is there room for one more?”

“Of course, plenty.”

I scooted aside to make space for her.

Athena then squeezed in beside me, plopping her ample hips onto the spot.

Once seated, she began watching Taisie and Reina’s sparring match with me.

“Even though she’s only using one hand… that red-haired woman has incredible martial prowess.”

Athena marveled at Taisie’s fluid movements and technique.

I agreed, but warfare wasn’t my expertise, so I just nodded along.

After a few more clashes, Taisie slowly started losing ground.

Once her boss’s victory seemed certain, Athena—perhaps having lost interest in the fight—turned to look at me with her striking beauty.

Her lake-blue eyes and a figure as revealing as the other women around her.

Unlike Vivian, her body was voluptuous yet agile.

When my eyes met those of this beautiful woman, I froze like a frog staring down a snake.

As we drowned in the strange tension of silence,

Athena slowly leaned her face toward mine.

The charged, intimate atmosphere right before a kiss.

Drunk in the moment, I was about to respond to her approaching lips when—

*-CRASH!*

A halberd flew between us, cutting through the air like a barrier.

Embedded precisely in the thick stone wall between our faces.

Reina spat on the ground with a thud, glaring at Athena like a delinquent.

Silently warned, Athena obediently turned back to watching the sparring match.

The halberd returned to Reina’s outstretched hand as she beckoned it back.

The awkward tension lingered now that we’d been chastised.

Athena scratched her cheek and finally spoke to me.

“Ha… You’re just so handsome, I couldn’t help myself…”

“Don’t worry, I was kinda looking forward to it too…”

Maybe because I’d learned the taste of a woman from Vivian, I hadn’t felt much resistance to the idea of a kiss.

As the awkwardness stretched a little longer, Athena continued the conversation.

It seemed she wasn’t *just* acting impulsively.

“So, you’re a commoner, right? You don’t have a family name.”

“Yes, are you…?”

“Correct. Both me and the boss are commoners. Well, technically, our entire army is made up of commoners.”

I was a little surprised by that revelation.

Erica’s army had her own relatives appointed as generals.

And she told me the core knight orders were all nobles from within Redmain.

Considering how Cecilia made it clear she couldn’t hire me—a commoner—it was safe to assume she was supported by a host of high-ranking noble generals.

Even Liriana, who tagged along everywhere, was a noble along with her sisters.

They weren’t particularly high-ranking, but they were nobles all the same.

So it was shocking to learn that Reina’s army—known by the renowned title “Peerless Under Heaven”—was entirely commoners.

“There are no nobles in the northwestern territories of Zheitan and Samaria.”

I’d heard something like that before.

Now, 300 years after the Frontier Empire was established,

the northwest remained largely unassimilated due to sheer distance from the imperial capital.

The indigenous people were labeled barbarians, driven out, and ultimately fought back against the empire.

That’s why, even when Emperor Oyeong belittled Baltazar Blackdon and Lucian Goldhenheim, certain nobles could mock him outright.

Because even landlords were disposable shields meant to drive back or hold off barbarians.

Or maybe because those barren lands were so useless, no one cared even if they were given away.

Athena continued speaking to me.

“No matter how much we distinguish ourselves, we can never escape being commoners. We’re treated like monsters, sent to slaughter barbarians over and over.

Yet, we’ve heard rumors about *you*—another commoner who’s made a name for yourself.”

Honestly, considering how heated the Redmain nobles got when Erica tried to put me in an important position…

It was only possible because Erica had an unusually open-minded attitude.

Still, there was something I couldn’t quite grasp, so I tilted my head in question.

“But your army is incredibly strong, isn’t it? Seems like someone like *you* would be worth using properly.”

“Hmm? How so?”

Athena’s tone hinted at curiosity.

After a moment of thought, I answered her question.

If *I* were leading an army—or ruling as a sovereign—what would I do?

“First, overhaul the meals.”

“Meals?”

“Yeah, I’ve been in war before—the food was the worst.”

Athena nodded in agreement.

“If we’re going to be fighting long wars, we should at least solve the food issue first. Might as well enjoy good, nutritious meals while we’re at it.”

“How?”

“Well… canned food?”

She tilted her head at the mention of canned food.

I explained slowly.

“Steel containers coated with tin. Ah, wait—”

Since I’d already thought it through, I calmly sketched the design in my notebook.

Sterilized meat, boiled or steamed, sealed inside tin-coated steel cans.

Food wasn’t my specialty, so trial and error would be involved, but it was worth trying.

Athena watched in fascination as I worked through the explanation.

“So… you mean if we store food in these steel cans, all we need to do is heat it when we’re ready to eat?”

“Exactly. Keep them in a cool place and they’ll last a hundred years, easy.

Plus, they’re sturdy, uniform in shape, stackable, and won’t spoil—perfect for supplies.

You can even cook them quickly.”

Why didn’t medieval warfare have dedicated cooks?

Because food spoiled too fast and transport methods were underdeveloped.

So nobles and soldiers survived on gruel—Erica included.

But with proper canning and sterilization, we could even create a dedicated cooking corps.

“Wouldn’t it be more efficient to formalize roles like cooks, military bands, and other specialized divisions?”

In medieval warfare, there were no real specialized departments.

At best, there were knights—the main fighters on horseback.

Otherwise, it was just foot soldiers (meat shields) and archers (filling numbers).

Cooking? Nothing but gruel due to lack of ingredients.

Military morale? Just generals blowing trumpets.

Wouldn’t formalizing specialties make war way more efficient?

“And soldiers should get leave too.”

“Leave…”

“If people just work nonstop, efficiency drops. And instead of paying them in rice or flour, use money to stimulate the economy…”

Could you call it professional soldiers?

Once I started thinking about improvements, endless ideas poured in.

Athena chuckled at my enthusiasm before leaning her head on my shoulder and whispering:

“Honestly… I’d rather work under *you*.”

Her delicate frame, her lake-blue eyes—she rested against me as if sighing.

Uncertain if she was joking, I asked:

“Does Goldhenheim not treat you well?”

True to his name, Lucian Goldhenheim wore gilded golden armor.

Though he’d clung to Emperor Oyeong, flattering his way into favor, he seemed spineless—yet rich.

Usually, having a boss like that wouldn’t be *too* bad, right?

But at my question, Athena winced and answered with half-lidded eyes.

“He used to be a good man.”

“Used to?”

“When we were still in Samaria, back when barbarians invaded and we fought them off.

Back then, Goldhenheim took in me and the boss—war orphans—recognized our talent, and made us generals.”

So… he was a good person?

As I thought that, Athena continued.

“But after cozying up to the Oyeongs in the capital, he stopped fighting on the frontlines.

Now, he pays irregularly and frequently sacrifices troops like disposable pawns…

All just for results…”

I quietly shut my mouth.

I hadn’t been a soldier for long, and there was nothing I could do for her anyway.

Yet even as I stayed silent, Athena kept pouring out her frustrations like a burst dam.

“Our army isn’t just cannon fodder made of commoners.

Each one was family, friends, comrades… yet we had to sacrifice them like trash on our lord’s orders.

And *we* had to be the ones to order their deaths.”

Her voice wavered with emotion.

Feeling for her, I patted her shoulder comfortingly.

Athena looked up at me and asked:

“Well? Would you take me and the boss with you?”

…I was tempted.

Getting two beautiful women for free—no, forget that.

This was a chance to gain the strongest general, crowned “Peerless Under Heaven,” and her army *for free.*

But I wasn’t a sovereign.

Even if Erica trusted me unconditionally, I couldn’t recklessly make moves like this.

I was just her obedient lapdog, after all.

Sure, she doted on me now because I was useful, but crossing the line would strangle me instantly.

More importantly, even if I *could* recruit Reina and Athena, it’d cause friction with Goldhenheim.

And that’d drag me into conflict with the Oyeong faction backing him—something only my liege could handle.

Since this was beyond me, I shook my head in refusal.

“I… see. Well, it *was* too much to ask. Forget I mentioned it.”

Athena pulled away from my shoulder, resigned.

In the awkward silence that followed, I pitied her.

So I tore out the canned food design from my notebook and handed it to her.

“Take this.”

“This is…”

Her eyes widened at the scrap of paper.

Having heard its value, she knew how precious it was.

Her gaze asked why I’d give her something so important, but…

“Nobody should have to starve.”

Honestly, even with the design, the sterilization step would stump them…

But if *I* failed while Goldhenheim’s people succeeded, they could just copy it.

With that, I slowly approached Taisie, whose sparring had just ended.

――――――――――――――――――――

After the spar, my boss, Reina, stretched with satisfaction.

Her long, voluptuous body extended fully.

“That was a damn good workout.”

“Was she strong?”

At my question, the boss thought for a moment before nodding.

“About on par with Athena, I’d say?”

“That stings my pride a little.”

I was considered the second strongest in Goldhenheim’s army, right after the boss.

Hearing I was comparable to some well-fed noble from the peaceful central lands was a blow.

The boss slapped my back and laughed.

“So, what’d you get from that handsome guy? A love letter?”

Amused, she snatched the note from my hand.

Clearly planning to tease me, she smirked as she unfolded it—only to frown at the contents.

“…What *is* this? …Canned food?”

“Yes. Surprisingly, it preserves food for long periods.

Even meat, so it won’t spoil during war or camping… You’re not listening, are you?”

As my explanation dragged on, the boss picked her ear, feigning disinterest.

Then, as if *I* were the unreasonable one, she barked:

“It’s—whatever! Stops food from rotting, right?! Like how milk ferments into cheese!”

“That’s completely different—”

“Same difference! Anyway, sounds great!”

The boss declared loudly.

Once, she’d bragged that heroes only needed to know how to write their names.

If I hadn’t drilled education into her daily, she’d probably be illiterate by now…

Still, she somehow grasped the idea of eating well during war.

Nodding, the boss said:

“Go report this to Goldhenheim.”

Though Erica was the supreme commander, *this* kind of strategic reporting was her job.

Sighing, she headed to her lord’s chambers.

The sight that greeted her was…

“You’re here?”

A tone dripping with sarcasm, unlike how he addressed high nobles.

Sprawled naked on a wide bed, rolling around with several prostitutes—her lord’s wretched appearance made it hard to believe he was once a brilliant general.

His lecherous gaze scanned her body with displeasure.

“So… did Reina cause trouble again?”

Goldhenheim assumed she was here to clean up another mess.

Unable to bear the sight of his sagging nakedness, Athena kept her eyes downcast as she handed him the paper.

He gestured for a nearby prostitute to take it instead.

Goldhenheim examined the scrap of paper handed to him.

Then he asked:

“What is this?”

Athena carefully explained canned food—its unmatched preservation, logistical benefits, and how it would improve soldiers’ meals.

She emphasized that it was designed by the man called “Erica’s Treasure.”

Any sensible ruler would’ve been intrigued.

But Goldhenheim, long past his days of brilliance, tore the paper without hesitation.

“So, you whored yourself out for *this*?”

“That’s not what happened.”

He sneered, as if offended she’d disturbed him for something so trivial.

“Do you think a great lord like me, ruling Samaria, should waste money on some commoner’s invention?”

“But quality meals boost morale—”

As she tried to persuade him, he raised a hand to cut her off.

“Does it make money? Can we use it immediately? Is it efficient?”

Her lord cared only for profit, not war.

Athena kept her head bowed, refusing to look at his lust-twisted, aged body.

Goldhenheim sighed down at her like she was an idiot.

“In my day, we fought just fine on gruel.

Better food just makes soldiers soft—it doesn’t raise morale.”

She barely swallowed the retort that he hadn’t fought barbarians in years.

“Soldiers just follow orders. Tell them to move like chess pieces, and they will. Is that so hard?”

Athena gritted her teeth.

Because *she* had been the one ordering her comrades—her *family*—to march to their deaths.

Her lord patted her shoulder in warning.

“You’re just a useful limb. Limbs don’t overstep their role by thinking.

If you cross the line again… I’ll put that lewd body of yours to work. Control yourself.”

“Understood.”

*-Crack.*

The sound of teeth grinding came from outside the door—her boss, eavesdropping.

Filled with fury and disappointment at being treated as mere chess pieces, Athena left the room.